The WSOP Europe kicked off Event #2: €1,100 No-Limit Hold'em on Saturday as 295 players packed the tournament room to take part in the first of two starting flights. The action was quick and by Level 9, the field had been whittled down to just 45 players—which is where action was halted. Leading that group is Ashly Butler, who emerged as the Day 1a chip leader with 48,125.
The tournament drew a plethora of pros, but many of them failed to get anything going. One such player was WSOP Player of the Year contender John Monnette, who was eliminated in the first level. It happened when a player in middle position raised to 75, Monnette moved all in for 975 right behind, and Jessica Bian made the call from the button. The original raiser got out of the way and the cards were turned up.
Showdown
Bian:
Monnette:
Monnette, who won a bracelet this, was in bad shape and in need of some help. Unfortunately for him, he would find none as the board ran out . On the bright side, Event #2 is a re-entry event, meaning he can try again tomorrow if he so chooses.
Others who fell on Day 1 were Vanessa Selbst, Chance Kornuth, Davidi Kitai, Marvin Rettenmaier, Michael Mizrachi, Joe Kuether, Jeff Lisandro, John Juanda, Andy Frankenberger and Jonathan Aguiar. Whether or not they’ll be back to try again remains to be seen.
While many fell, a few notables managed to make the top 45. They include Antonio Esfandiari, Ran Azor, McLean Karr, Antonin Teisseire, Konstantin Puchkov and October Nine member Greg Merson, all of whom will return at 14:00 CET for Day 2.
Prior to the break we lost Vanessa Selbst. The two-time bracelet winner was short stacked and ended up busting when her lost to Elli Dror's . The latter had made two pair to send Selbst out the door.
After a player in middle position raised to 75, John Monnette moved all in for 975 right behind. Jessica Bian made the call from the button, while the original raiser opted to get out of the way.
Showdown
Bian:
Monnette:
Monnette, who won a bracelet this summer and is contending for WSOP Player of the Year, was in bad shape and in need of some help. The flop was far from what he was looking for, and the turn left him looking for an ace on the river. Monnette seemed to know it wasn't in the cards as he was up out of his seat and collecting his things. Sure enough, the blanked and Monnette made an early exit. The good news is he can try again tomorrow if he so chooses.
Chad HollowayAndrew Hinrichsen after his win in 2011.
Yesterday, the sixth annual World Series of Poker Europe commenced at the Casino Barrière in Cannes, the second time the prestigious circuit has called the south of France home. Event #1: €2,700 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold'em kicked off the first of seven events, while the second—Event #2: €1,100 No-Limit Hold'em—begins today!
This re-entry event features two starting flights, and given it’s the most affordable buy-in at this year’s WSOP Europe, the field is expected to big. Last year, this very event drew 771 entries, which made it the largest event in WSOP Europe history, surpassing the previous record of 608 entrants in the €1,000 No-Limit Hold'em event back in 2009. After three days of intense play, Andrew Hinrichsen defeated a final table that included Gianluca Sperana (2nd-€91,262), Roberto Romanello (5th-€37,874) and John Eames (7th-€22,449) to capture the €148,030 first-place prize.
Expectations are high headed into Event #2 and rumors are circulating that a new record could be set, though that won’t be determined until the end of Day 1b. Another question in the back of everybody’s mind is whether or not this will be the year Frenchman finally wins a bracelet in Europe? Twenty-three bracelets have been awarded over the previous five WSOP Europes, including one right here in France, but a Frenchman failed to capture a single one.
We expect a diversified field of pros and local amateurs to take to the felt at Noon CET, so join us then as we bring you all of the Event #1: €2,700 Six-Handed NLHE action from the floor of the Casino Barrière.
. On the bright side, Event #2 is a re-entry event, meaning he can try again tomorrow if he so chooses.
lost to Elli Dror's 
. The latter had made two pair to send Selbst out the door.
